Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection

Balm of America Banner image, a collection of medicine

About the Collection
The Smithsonian Institution began to collect objects related to health and medicine in 1881. It first obtained examples of patent medicines in 1930, acquiring packages of Haarlem Oil (or Dutch Drops), Dr. John Hooper’s Female Pills, and Roche’s Herbal Embrocation. Since then the Smithsonian’s collection of patent medicines has expanded to over 4,000 products, dating from the 19th century to the present day.

About this Object Group
This group of objects features examples from this collection, found in the Division of Medicine and Science at the National Museum of American History. Each entry includes a photo of the object, the product’s name, maker’s name, place of manufacture, and a date range. Ingredients and therapeutic claims are included when indicated on the product packaging.

Browse
Browse the collection by therapeutic category. You can also use the keyword search (at right) which searches all fields of information.

More Information
Learn more about patent medicine history and how this history is revealed in examples from our collection. Questions or comments? Contact us.

Date: 1880s

Thermaline

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Chills, fever, ague, dumb ague, intermittent fever, all malarial diseases, enlarged spleen, ague cake, remittent, intermittent, periodic, continuous, swamp, bilious, congestive and simple fevers, liver
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Chills, fever, ague, dumb ague, intermittent fever, all malarial diseases, enlarged spleen, ague cake, remittent, intermittent, periodic, continuous, swamp, bilious, congestive and simple fevers, liver disorders, kidney disease, jaundice, general debility, poverty of the blood, neuralgia, female debility, dyspepsia.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1880
maker
Dundas Dick and Company
ID Number
MG.M-12151.06B
accession number
271464
catalog number
M-12151

Sheridan's Cavalry Condition Powder - for the Prevention and Cure Hog Cholera, Chicken Cholera, and Cattle Plague

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For the cure of diseases of horse, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For the cure of diseases of horse, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. This powder should be given in all cases of loss of appetite, roughness of hair, stoppage of bowels or water, coughs, colds, swelling of gland of throat, worms, horse-ail, hide-bound, hots and heaves. For the prevention and cure of cattle plague, in its various forms of southern cattle fever, anthrax, rinderpest, pleuro-pneumonia, etc., hog cholera, chicken cholera.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1885
maker
I. S. Johnson and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10768
catalog number
M-10768
accession number
256193

Tamara Larix Bon Bon

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For the cure of constipation and liver diseases and thereby for the prevention of headache, dyspepsia, cerebral congestion, biliousness, piles, etc., etc.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For the cure of constipation and liver diseases and thereby for the prevention of headache, dyspepsia, cerebral congestion, biliousness, piles, etc., etc. Cures constipation and thus prevents congestion of the brain, apoplexy, insanity, convulsions. It is almost a cure for sea sickness.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1872-1883
maker
McKesson and Robbins
F. Crosby
ID Number
MG.M-12151.15
accession number
271464
catalog number
M-12151.15

Chamberlain's Cough Remedy

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For Cough, Colds, Croup, Whooping Cough, Hoarsness, Bronchitis, Sore Throat, Influenza, and diseases of the Throat and Lungs.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For Cough, Colds, Croup, Whooping Cough, Hoarsness, Bronchitis, Sore Throat, Influenza, and diseases of the Throat and Lungs.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1906
1908-1918
associated date
1882
maker
Chamberlain Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup5]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193

Upham's Asthma Cure

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For asthma paroxysmCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For asthma paroxysm
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1872-1883
maker
Samuel C. Upham
ID Number
MG.M-12151.16
catalog number
314016.025
accession number
271464

Dr. Tucker No. 59 Cough Drops

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Cure of coughs, colds, sore throat, bronchial affectionsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Cure of coughs, colds, sore throat, bronchial affections
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1880
maker
Dr. H. A. Tucker
ID Number
MG.293320.1280
catalog number
293320.1280
accession number
293320

Salvation Oil

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: All bodily painsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: All bodily pains
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
after 1882
maker
A. C. Meyer and Company
ID Number
1984.0782.175
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.175

Chamberlain's Eye and Skin Ointment

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For sore eyes, tetter, salt-rheum, ring worm, scald head, barbers itch, prairie scratches, itch, piles, burns, scalds, frost bites, chilblains, frozen feet, sore nipples, chapped hands, old chronic sores
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For sore eyes, tetter, salt-rheum, ring worm, scald head, barbers itch, prairie scratches, itch, piles, burns, scalds, frost bites, chilblains, frozen feet, sore nipples, chapped hands, old chronic sores, and fever sores
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1884
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Chamberlain Medicine Company
ID Number
1984.0351.119
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.119

Thomas' Eclectic Oil (Formerly Thomas' Eclectric Oil)

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Coughs, colds, sore throat, colic, spasmodic croup, whooping coughCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Coughs, colds, sore throat, colic, spasmodic croup, whooping cough
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
after 1880
maker
Foster-Milburn Company
ID Number
1984.0782.193
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.193

Dr. Davenport's Bilious Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Bilious pills or deobstruent physicCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Bilious pills or deobstruent physic
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1861 - 1883
1861 - 1883
maker
Weeks and Potter
ID Number
1984.0782.050
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.050

Dr. Davenport's Bilious Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: purifying the blood and creating an appetiteCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: purifying the blood and creating an appetite
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1861 - 1883
maker
Weeks and Potter
ID Number
1984.0782.049
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.049

Dr. J. Walker's California Vinegar Bitters

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:The great blood purifier and life-giving principle.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
The great blood purifier and life-giving principle. A remedy for dyspepsia, indigestion, rheumatism, diarrhea, consumption, catarrh, bronchitis, neuralgia, headache, boils and ulcers, sore eyes, dropsy, scald head, paralysis, erysipelas, scrofula, tetter, skin diseases, bilious, remittent and intermittent fevers. Pains in the back, shoulders, heart and chest, liver and kidney complaints, stomach ache, jaundice, gout and fits, dizziness, colds and coughs, croup, palpitations of the heart, lead colic, nausea, biliousness, dysentary, piles, etc. Pin, tape and other worms lurking in the system of so many thousands are effectually destroyed and removed. For female complaints, in young or old, married or single, at the dawn of womanhood or the turn of life, this tonic bitters has no equal. Aperient, diaphoretic and carminative, nutritious, laxative, diuretic, sedative, counter-irritant, sudorific, alterative, and anti-bilious.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1886
maker
R. H. McDonald Drug Company
ID Number
2008.0062.28
accession number
2008.0062
catalog number
2008.0062.28

Dr. Haynes' Arabian Balsam

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: This excellent compound has been used for many years in the treatment of colds, coughs or hoarseness due to colds.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: This excellent compound has been used for many years in the treatment of colds, coughs or hoarseness due to colds. For burns, scalds and bruises, insect bites or stings, ivy poisining, corns and chilblains.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1885
maker
E. Morgan & Sons
ID Number
2008.0018.128
catalog number
2008.0018.128
accession number
2008.0018

Magic Cure for Chills and All Fevers

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:Cures malarial fevers, headaches, dyspepsia, neuralgia, rheumatism, piles, costivenessCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Cures malarial fevers, headaches, dyspepsia, neuralgia, rheumatism, piles, costiveness
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1875-1883
maker
George Tallcot
ID Number
1989.0711.31
accession number
1989.0711
catalog number
1989.0711.31

Blood Balm

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Purifying AlterativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Purifying Alterative
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1915
associated date
1883
maker
Blood Balm Company
ID Number
1978.0235.178
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.178

Shiloh's Catarrh Remedy

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A speedy and positive cure for catarrh, cold in the head, sore throat, canker mouth, and nervous headacheCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A speedy and positive cure for catarrh, cold in the head, sore throat, canker mouth, and nervous headache
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1873-1883
maker
S. C. Wells and Company
ID Number
1979.0798.119
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.119

Blair's Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1882
maker
H. Planten and Son
Prout & Harsant
ID Number
1981.0170.036
accession number
1981.0170
catalog number
1981.0170.036

Schenck's Mandrake Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For biliousness and associated conditions due to constipation.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For biliousness and associated conditions due to constipation.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1900
c. 1883
maker
Dr. J. H. Schenck & Son
ID Number
1979.0798.379
catalog number
1979.0798.379
accession number
1979.0798

Petit's Blood Purifier

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1884
maker
Howard Brothers
ID Number
2004.0050.13
accession number
2004.0050
catalog number
2004.0050.13

Dr. Shiloh's System Vitalizer

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the Cure of Dyspepsia, Inactive Liver, Habitual Constipation, Sour Stomach, Loss of Appetite and General Languer and Debility of the SystemCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the Cure of Dyspepsia, Inactive Liver, Habitual Constipation, Sour Stomach, Loss of Appetite and General Languer and Debility of the System
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1880
maker
S. C. Wells and Company
ID Number
2004.0050.14
accession number
2004.0050
catalog number
2004.0050.14

Dr. I. W. Lyon's Tooth Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca. 1885
maker
I. W. Lyon
ID Number
2001.0314.782
accession number
2001.0314
catalog number
2001.0314.782

Dr. H. D. Whitlock's Cathartic Granules

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:CatharticCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Cathartic
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1872-1883
maker
E. A. Burr and Company
ID Number
1989.0711.64
catalog number
1989.0711.64
accession number
1989.0711

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.